The Hurricanes and Highlanders will have designs on higher finishes than their eighth and ninth respectively last year.

Coach Mark Hammett has lost star winger Cory Jane to a season-ending knee injury but his young Hurricanes backline achieved thrilling deeds without Jane in 2012, playing the brightest football of any team.

There's no reason five-eighth Beauden Barrett and outside backs Julian Savea and Andre Taylor can't shine again behind a bullish young pack boosted by prop Ben Franks from the Crusaders.

For major off-season transfers, though, nobody beats the previously-unfashionable Highlanders, who have added the considerable muscle of Brad Thorn at lock and lured veteran Blues All Blacks Tony Woodcock and Ma'a Nonu south.

Those departures were a body blow to a Blues side already stripped of numerous players from their tumultuous campaign under departed coach Pat Lam which ended in a worst-ever placing of 12th.

Sir John Kirwan - with support from assistant Sir Graham Henry - has been left to mould a raw squad, half of whom are new to this level.

The two knights have conjured a promising Blues pre-season campaign but that has only to quietened dire season predictions for the three-time champions.

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